Gambia Press Union’s (GPU) Secretary General Tuesday called on individuals who believes in and has consent to protect democracy to stand-up and not to allow the case filed before a lower court by Gambia’s former Agriculture minister Omar Jallow against the online newspaper Kerr Fatou case to proceed.
Saikou Jammeh said the case has put government’s accountability and transparency among others at stake.
“If Kerr Fatou losses the case, it is not the media organizations but freedom of expression that is at stake,” he said.
Mr. Jallow sued Kerr Fatou following a report it published that he connived for ‘financial reasons’ and sold obsolete fertilizer in The Gambia and Senegal.
He denied the allegations and sued the paper for libel. He is seeking 20 million dalasi for damages caused.
The case was scheduled for Tuesday but could not proceed as one of the witnesses Alhagie Yerro Jallow was reported to have not been served because he is out of the of the country.
His lawyer Badou Conteh shortly after the Tuesday adjournment said people have been misquoted by the media several times but his believe is that it should be settled once the misrepresentation is rectified.
“I don’t go by the media, I go by my client. I have been instructed by my client. I am a legal practitioner and i comport myself within the confines of my profession,” lawyer Conteh said.
But he said he also believes that people who believe that the media fraternity had wronged them, there are other measures the media can do that would prevent matter becoming worse.
Amadou Jallow
Oh boy! Pity on that media enterprise. The way it’s looking, Kerr Fatou might be in for a tough time. The way out will look like this, in my opinion:
1) If you know your case is weak in evidence on the allegations you made against Omar, apologize to him, his family and friends.
2) If one is not enough for him, settle out of court and put your investigative journalism on the back burner at least for now. It’s not a core competence of yours.
3) Reconsider your market position because there are a series of overlapping irreconcilable segments that might be stretching you too thin.
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Am on your side though because I believe if Omar Jallow is sincere in his quest to clear his name, he won’t be asking for twenty one million Dalasi. Plus, the absence of evidence in this case cannot clear his name in the numerous corrupt practices we all know they ALL are engaged in. Period!
Pssst: a friend of mine got asked for $20,000 by same to award him a contract.
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Long way to go dear Gambia, long way to go.
Is about time we take responsibility of what We say and write. Is OJ’s right to go to the courts. Going to court does not exactly mean you will win. If kerr fatu is sure of what they said no problem let them present their evidence in court. Once they win the case they can also sue O.J. for lost of earning. This is part of democracy. I will advise members of the press to investigate before going to the press. People you talk and write about are human beings with feelings, families and friends . Things you say and write affects them. The era of gossip and lazy journalism is gone. We fought for democracy and we have it but it comes with resposibility. Let’s be responsible.
Is about time we take responsibility of what We say and write. Is OJ’s right to go to the courts. Going to court does not exactly mean you will win. If kerr fatu is sure of what they said no problem let them present their evidence in court. Once they win the case they can also sue O.J. for lost of earning what ever they call it. This is part of democracy. I will advise members of the press to investigate before going to the press. People you talk and write about are human beings with feelings, families and friends . Things you say and write affects them. The era of gossip and lazy journalism is gone. We fought for democracy and we have it but it comes with resposibility. Let’s be responsible.
What a bunch of BS by Saikou Jammeh. This case is between one man and one media entity. If individuals want to donate money to “Kerr Fatou Defense Fund” they sure can do so. It seems Kerr Fatou may need a defense fund if it has not already set up one based on what GPU said. Lol! The Judiciary has a role in our society. When an action is brought before it, it is its duty to deliberate. This should be a simple case for Kerr Fatou because truth is a defense in a defamation case. Once Kerr Fatou show that what it reported about OJ was true, OJ cannot win. Period. On the other hand, OJ must prove all the elements of his case. OJ cannot go to court and asked Kerr Fatou to prove that what it reported about him was truth. OJ may have a very very difficult time proving his case. In other words, it is unlikely for OJ to win because of certain considerations in a case of this nature. Let’s say OJ proves that Kerr Fatou reported things about him which were false, that still would not be enough for him to win. When Njundu and others first wrote about the case they said nothing about what OJ will need to do to prove his case. They wrote about things which were way off. I wrote and pointed this out and I was attacked. Lol! This is not a case against the entire media fraternity, but one media entity who may have been irresponsible reporting about a person. Kerr Fatou may have to pay up, but it is unlikely. As for OJ’s lawyer, if he is who I think he is, oh boy. Not in a good way at all. Have blessed day everyone.
Saikou Jammeh is trying to defend the offender and not the victim, so it is right to assassinate Uncle O.J’s character because we are in a democracy. Should half-baked media practitioners hide behind press freedom to damage descend citizens’ characters and then turn round to beg the very people that to try to destroy to take side with them?
What is so special about journalism and journalists? Would Kerr Fatou feature the story if it had affected their relatives or family members?
Let us wake up now; the Gambia’s rogue media need regulation.
Those who have chosen the profession of rushing to reveal other people’s ordeals while keeping theirs confidential should expect periodical retaliations from the people they want to see destroyed.
I just cant understand how Gambians should get up and defend Kerr Fatou, nor how is it an attack to our democracy.If Fatou can proof the allegations against OJ let that be